Bhima Koregaon: 5th judge recuses from hearing Gautam Navlakha's plea

In a major development, a fifth Supreme Court (SC) judge has on Thursday recused himself from hearing plea filed by Gautam Navlakha seeking quashing of FIR registered against him in Bhima Koregaon case. Justice Ravindra Bhat is fifth SC judge to recuse himself from hearing Navlakha's plea  case has been listed for furr hearing on October 4. He was on bench during hearing in case on Thursday with Justices Arun Mishra and Vineet Saran. 

This development has come days after Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi recused himself from case. After CJI recused himself from hearing case, matter was placed before SC bench including Justices R Subhash Reddy, NV Ramana and BR Gavai. However, all three of m also recused mselves. With Navalakha interim protection from arrest which was granted by Bombay High Court ending on Friday, his plea has been listed from hearing on Friday before ar bench. 

RE | CJI recuses self from hearing Gautam Navlakha's plea against Bombay HC

Maharashtra govt files caveat

Earlier in September, Maharashtra government h filed a caveat in matter seeking to be heard before any orders are passed. Navlakha along with Sudha Bhardwaj, Varavara Rao, Vern Gonsalves, and Arun Ferreira are accused in 2017 Bhima-Koregaon case and for having alleged Maoist links. On September 13, high court h refused to quash FIR lodged against Navlakha in case, ting that re was prima facie substance in case. high court h emphasised on a thorough investigation in case, highlighting "magnitude of case".

RE | Bhima-Koregaon case: Bombay HC refuses to quash Gautam Navlakha's case

Bhima Koregaon case

high court h however extended protection from arrest to Navlakha for a period of three weeks to enable him to approach top court to file an appeal against order. In January 2018, Pune Police lodged an FIR against Navlakha and ors after Elgar Parish held on December 31, 2017, that h allegedly triggered violence at Koregaon Bhima in Pune district next day. Gautam Navlakha and four ors were accused have booked under provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Sections 121, 121(a) and 124 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), amounting to sedition, waging a war against State, and conspiring to commit certain offences against State

RE | Maharashtra Govt files caveat plea in SC against Gautam Navlakha

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(With PTI inputs)